Carlsbad, Calif. – (September 8, 2014) – Gene editing – the modification of an organism’s genome via a specific, targeted approach - is among the fastest growing applications for molecular biologists. Now, new tool kits are available to researchers that enable them to quickly make specific changes to DNA in a variety of cells.

GeneArt CRISPR products from Thermo Fisher Scientific leverage the type II CRISPR (clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 system for genome editing. This is an RNA guided DNA endonuclease system that has two key components, the Cas9 protein that serves as an DNA endonuclease and a non-coding RNA component called guide RNA that confers target specificity. The CRISPR/Cas9 system works in conjunction with endogenous repair mechanisms to alter DNA within a cell.

The CRISPR product portfolio offers many options for complete flexibility and ease of use:

GeneArt® CRISPR Nuclease mRNA is ready to transfect or microinject wild type Cas9 in mRNA format. The mRNA format is best for multiplexed screening of gRNA sequences, applications that require delivery by microinjection, and easier dosage optimization of Cas9 protein to gRNA in the cell. Cas9 mRNA is co-transfected with 1 or more custom GeneArt CRISPR Strings DNA encoding target-specific guide RNA (gRNA) or in vitro transcribed gRNA which removes promoter constraints and is a better option for difficult to transfect cells such as induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs.

The GeneArt CRISPR Nuclease Vector Kits offer reporter and enrichment tags for tracking gene editing experiments and are great for cloning and re-use of confirmed gRNA sequences. The GeneArt CRISPR Nuclease Vector with CD4 Enrichment is a vector system for expression of the functional components of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology with a CD4 reporter. The CD4 reporter offers magnetic bead-based sorting/enrichment of Cas9 & CRISPR expressing cells using Dynabeads CD4 magnetic beads. Transfection efficiency can also be tracked using anti-CD4 fluorescent antibodies. The GeneArt CRISPR Nuclease Vector with OFP Reporter is a similar expression vector system with an orange fluorescent protein (OFP) reporter. The OFP reporter allows for fluorescence-based tracking of transfection efficiency, as well as FACS-based sorting/enrichment of Cas9 and CRISPR expressing cells.

GeneArt CRISPRs can be used with other gene editing tools, such as the GeneArt Genomic Detection Cleavage Kit, providing a complete solution for design of synthetic genes, circuits and detection. After targets have been screened and the site with best cleavage efficiency has been identified with the fast and easy to use GeneArt CRISPR system, then the biologically relevant mutations can be precisely created with GeneArt Precision TALs with high specificity. Thermo Fisher can also design and clone CRISPRs for customers through the Custom Services team: CRISPR@lifetech.com .

CRISPRs are part of the natural immune system of many bacterial species and have been found to function in a wide variety of cells. The targeting function is supplied by a short guide RNA (gRNA) which forms a complex with the Cas9 nuclease and directs it to the intended genome locus to create a double-stranded break, allowing modification at the site.
“CRISPRs provide a way to quickly and easily target those genomic sites a researcher wishes to modify in order to engineer cells,” said Helge Bastian, vice president for synthetic biology, Life Sciences Solutions, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Our new CRISPR kit format, along with our transfection reagents, offers a simplified workflow that enables the less-experienced user to easily carry out gene editing.”
“These latest additions demonstrates our commitment to build a portfolio from which researchers can select the tools best for their application, and we also offer in-house expertise ready to advise on that selection,” added Bastian.
For more information on GeneArt CRISPR kits, visit www.lifetechnologies.com/crispr.
These products are: For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of $17 billion and 50,000 employees in 50 countries. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics and increase laboratory productivity. Through our four premier brands – Thermo Scientific, Life Technologies, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services – we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive support. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.